Instructors learn CPS approach as discipline model

April Tophamatopham@ncnewspress.com

Friday

Apr 27, 2018 at 10:27 AM

Educators from the Hamburg School district recently participated in an exceptional professional workshop. Southwest Iowa Families hosted a free workshop for local mental health professionals and educators in the three-county area on April 5. School staff, therapists, social workers, and counselors were invited to attend a closed all-day “Train the trainer” session, presented by Lives in the Balance, a non-profit organization founded by child psychologist Dr. Ross Greene.Dr. Greene designed the collaborative and proactive solutions (CPS) approach to discipline, which strives to instill the values of collaboration, shared respect, and solving problems in an agreeable manner. The CPS model can help teachers and caregivers treat behaviorally challenged kids with compassion and effectively help them be understood.The workshop featured speaker Kimberly A. Doheny, RN BSN, who has worked with Dr. Greene since 2005, to improve care and outcomes for vulnerable children. Schools are noticing a significant increase in children with challenging behavior. The need for educators to enhance their classroom management skills is often seen as vital to school success.Jackie Barrett, Instructional Coach for Hamburg, said the district is always trying to find new ways to work together with parents to solve problems effectively. Jackie spends her time observing classrooms to help teachers identify students who are struggling. She works with teachers to implement progressive strategies for student success.Barrett also says Dr. Greene’s CPS model is key in alleviating challenging behaviors.

The model focuses on solutions for children who are not meeting expectations. “Who doesn't get frustrated when confronted with a task that they don't know how to solve,” said Barrett. CPS brings parents, teachers and the student together for effective results.Training teachers to advocate for students and offer support for parents is the best way a collaborative effort can be achieved.“Engaging our students in finding ways to solve problems that affect their lives, allows us to help them become more successful, not only at school but in their daily lives, and in the future,” said Barrett “Together we can change the world, one student at a time.”